A CALLOUS robber lay in wait for an elderly man in his own home and brutally attacked and tied him up.

George Fairclough had previously done gardening work for his 84-year-old victim and ironically it was his phone number on his advertising flyer that led to his detection.

For while 21-year-old Fairclough carefully hid his identity with a balaclava he used his mobile phone to ring a taxi to flee, and detective work led to his door.

A shocked court heard on Friday how Fairclough had been paid £70 to remove some ivy for victim Dennis Brough, who rang him after a maildrop of his leaflet.

On July 4 Mr Brough went out for the evening and returned and was immediately confronted by an intruder in the hallway of his home.

Fairclough had broken in, and was waiting for him to return and attacked him.

“Mr Brough attempted very briefly to fight back but was unable to do so and was punched several times in the face. He was overpowered and taken into the living room and at that point was tied up with strips of pink material,” said Rob Jones, prosecuting.

“He bound the victim by both wrists and ankle and gagged him with a tea towel.”

Fairclough threatened him and demanded the pin number for his bank card and relieved him of his wallet. “Mr Brough very bravely gave a false number initially but on receipt of further threats provided the accurate number.

“He told him if it proved to be the accurate number he would return to free him and left the victim trussed on the floor.”

Mr Jones said that Mr Brough could hear Fairclough moving around upstairs and he then left with the victim’s television set in a taxi. Mr Brough struggled free and rushed out of the property and flagged down a passing vehicle.

“The driver was horrified at what he saw, being confronted by a clearly distressed frightened elderly man with obvious facial injuries, his face covered in blood. He still had the tea towel around his neck.”

He was taken to a police station and police tracked down the taxi driver who told how he had taken a man away from the victim’s home in Manchester Road, Southport, along with a television set about midnight.

He took him to a cashpoint where the passenger made two transactions to withdraw a total of £550 from the victim’s bank account and then told the driver to take him to a property in Hawkshead Street in Southport.

Police went to the address where the woman tenant let them in and they found a balaclava and gloves on the top of the freezer. Her phone showed she had been in contact with Fairclough and he had sent her a text about the television set, said Mr Jones.

“There was a knock at the window and when officers looked out they could see the defendant who ran off but he was overpowered and restrained. He appeared to be under the influence of drugs and was taken into custody.

When interviewed he finally admitted being at the property but denied tying Mr Brough up and said someone else was to blame.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, told him that he would inevitably receive a substantial sentence but he would have to consider his dangerousness and also wanted to see the balaclava and have an update on the victim.